Stock transfer truck



March 10, 1953 G. w. BURG STOCK TRANSFER TRUCK Fil ed Dec. 26, 1950INVENTOR. G e cage WBur/g' BY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a stock transfer truck having one or moreshelves and carrying a retractable step ladder at one end thereof so asalways to be convenient when articles of stock are to be transferredfrom the truck to high storage shelves or vice versa.

One object of my invention is to provide, in combination with a stocktruck having shelves, 9, step ladder mounted for reciprocation between alower anchor position contacting the floor and an upper riding positionclearing the floor, said upper riding position being defined by a novelstop means which includes one of the shelves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a large circular loopportion upon the upper end of a step ladder stringer or leg member. Thisloop portion lies in a vertical plane and is spaced above one of thehorizontal steps or stepping areas. Thus, the loop and stepping areacooperate to brace the le and foot, respectively, of a person using theladder.

My invention is concerned with a stock transfer truck of the type knownto the trade as a stock picker. Such a truck finds special utility inthe stock rooms of those large concerns which handle, store, andtransfer a large volume of small parts, variety packaged goods,miscellaneous merchandise, and the like. Conventionally, a stock roomclerk loads the shelves of the truck with merchandise to be stored. Thetruck is then pushed to the storage area where the merchandise isunloaded and stacked on stock room shelves. Upon occasion, the clerk mayreverse this process to assemble customer orders from the stock roomshelves to the truck.

Equipping a stock picker with a built-in ladder has become almost anecessity in view of the high, ceiling-to-fioor shelves employed in mostmodern stock rooms. To this end, it has become conventional to mount apivotab-le or reciprocable ladder on one end of the truck so the stockclerk conveniently can climb up and reach the higher shelves. Suchladders are pivotable or reciprocable in order to function additionallyas a brake for the truck. Thus, the ladder is mounted for movementbetween two positions. Normally, it is held in a retracted or ridingposition clear of the floor. Either mechanically (with a lever or thelike) or when the clerk steps on the ladder, it will swing down intocontact with the floor. This latter position, then, is an extended oranchoring position for preventing inadvertent movement of the truckwhile the ladder is in use.

While engaged in the manufacture and sale of stock pickers, I havebecome aware of certain disadvantages inherent in the conventional truckstructure as above described. The most obvious of these disadvantagesflows from the ladder structure per se and the manner in which thisstructure is correlated to the shelves of the truck. By way of example,the steps on the conventional ladder are rounded rungs. The stock clerkexperiences extreme difficulty in maintaining proper balance and inattempting to free both hands to stack merchandise while standing orbalancing on a rounded rung. On the other hand, the usual full step,such as is found on a step ladder, is too bulky for a stock picker sinceit obscures and blocks access to that area of the truck upon which theladder is mounted. These disadvantages have bottomed my inventiveexperimentation and a structure eliminating them bounds the scope of theinstant invention.

To this end, each of my ladder steps possess a full steppin area yetthey do not block access to the shelves of the truck. This is for thereason that I have vertically spaced my steps and shelves equaldistances to allow ready access to the shelves between adjacent steps.Furthermore, the rear portion of each step protrudes or extends backunder the corresponding shelf. Such protrusion not only hides part ofthe step while it is not in use, but it provides a novel stop or limitmeans for limiting movement of the ladder at the precise point definingthe upper riding position. That is to say, my upstanding chassis orframe members and horizontal shelves jointly bound the peripheraloutline of the truck. The step ladder is mounted for reciprocation uponone end of the truck without this peripheral outline. One of the steps,on the other hand, extends longitudinally within the peripheral outlinebelow one of the shelves so as to contact the underside thereof when theladder is raised. Such contact limits upper reciprocation of the ladderand assures the disposition of the steps in an out-of-the-way,

respectively, of the stock clerk as he stands upon the top step.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an operative latchingmeans on one of the above described loop portions for locking the ladderin the lower anchor position. Thus, the stock clerk can step from theladder to the top shelf of the truck when desired, yet the truck willremain anchored against movement.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forthin the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my wheeled stock transfer truck showingthe step ladder reciprocably mounted upon one end thereof and indicatingthe manner in which the steps are spaced vertically the same distance asthe shelves in order to allow access to the shelves between the steps;and

Fig. 2 is a detail view, taken partially in section and substantially onthe line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the upper riding position of the ladderand latch means in dashed outline and ShOWlllg the lower anchor positionthereof in full line, the operative movements of the ladder and latchbeing indicated by arrows.

I haveshown my stock transfer truck mounted upon four wheels I, thefront two of which may be swiveled as in the caster 2. The principalstructural details of the truck include four upstanding frame or chassismembers 3 which I prefer to form from angle irons. These frame members 3carry the lower, middle, and upper horizontal shelf members 4, 5, and 6,respectively To this end, each shelf member may include four boundingangle irons l carrying elongated wood or metal plates 8 (see Fig. 2). Inany event, it will be seen that the upstanding frame members 3 arespaced about the periphery of the truck and, together with the shelfmembers 4, 5, and 6, they bound and define the peripheral outline of thetruck.

Reciprocably mounted upon one end of the truck, I have shown a stepladder generally indicated at 9. This ladder includes two tubularstringers l slidably mounted in the spaced guide members H. Each guidemember H is secured, as by bolts l2, to one of the rear frame members 3.'Ready disassembly for shipping is enhanced by forming each tubularstringer H3 in two parts, an upper and a lower half. These halves orparts'arejoined and held by an elongated tubular sleevefl. Four setscrews hi grip the halves within the tubular sleeve l3.

As best shown in Fig. l, the two elongated step elements 15 are joined,as by, sleeves it, to the stringers :19. Each such step element isdisposed in ahorizontal plane and possesses a substantial stepping area.A portion of this stepping area, as shown at ll (see Fig. 2), extendslongitudinally forward and under the shelf corresponding thereto. Forexample, the upper shelf element l extends longitudinally within theperipheral outline of the truck to make contact with the angle iron Ibounding the upper shelf member 6. Thus, when the step ladder 9 is in.the upper riding position shown in Fig. l, the step and shelf coact todefine'a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of the ladderwithin the guide members H.

' Turning now to the reciprocable movements or" the step ladder 9, apair of springs I8 encircle the lowerhalf of each stringer it. Therespective ends of each spring 18 are held between one of the sleeves l6and one of the guide members H. The combinedforce of the two springs hasbeen calculatedto yield under the weight of a person stepping on theladder .9, Thus, the springs bias the step elements 15 into engagementwith the underside of their companion shelves 5 and 6, yet such bias isyieldable under the weight of a person using the ladder.

In Fig. l, the ladder 9 is shown in the upper riding position. In thisposition, the rubber tips is on the stringers Hl clear the floor andallow the truck to be pushed about the stock room. When a stock clerkwishes to place merchandise on a high shelf, however, he need only stepon one of the step elements [5 to overcome the bias of the springs 48and vertically lower the ladder until the rubber tips 19 contact thefloor. I have termed this latter position, with the stringers in contactwith the floor, a lower anchor position since the truck is then heldagainst movement. Continuing, when the stock clerk steps off the ladder,it will return to the position shown in Fig. 1 under the influence ofthe springs it.

In order to promote balance and provide a brace for the stock clerkwhile he stands upon the ladder, the upper end of each stringer l5)defines a large circular loop portion 28. Each such loop portion isdisposed in a vertical plane and is formed by bendingthe terminal end'ofa stringer back upon itself. Within the scope of my invention, theselarge circular loops Hand the substantial horizontal stepping area ofthe top step is provide a coacting structureof critical Thus, the stockclerk may work with both hands free by bracinghis calf or kneeimportance.

against one of the loops 2i] while his foot rests on the top step. Theutility of this'coacting structure will be obvious to anyone who hastried to maintain his balance while standing on the top rung of aladder.

At times, it may be necessary for the stock clerk to ascend the stepladder t9 and stand upon the upper shelf member 6. At such times, the

step ladder should remain in the lower anchor,

position in order to prevent inadvertent movement of the truck.Accordingly, I have provided an operative means carried. by one of theloop portions 25 for locking the ladder in the lower anchor position.This means includes a. latch member 21 which is pivoted, as at 22,adjacent the end of the right hand loop portion 28. Normally, the latchmember 21 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however,the stock clerk desires to lock the ladder in the lower anchor position,he steps upon one of the step elements it and pivots the latch member 21as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. secures a pivoted keeper 23 over theend of the latch member 21! to hold the same in place. Further, as shownin Fig. 2, the end of the latch member 25 will then catch under-theupper guide member H to prevent the springs [8 from returne ing the stepladder to the position in Fig. 1.

In operation, my stock picker will find special utility in the stockrooms of concerns whichhandle, store, and transfer a large volume ofsmall parts or merchandise. stacked upon the shelf members 4, 5, and Bwith ease since access thereto is provided from all four sides 'of thetruck. When loaded, the truck is pushed to a storage area and themerchandise is unloaded from the truck shelves to storage shelves. Whenmerchandise is to be stacked on a high shelf, the stock room clerk stepsupon one of the step elements I5 whereupon the ladder 9 moves verticallydown until the rubber tips I9 'onthe stile members H1 contact the floor.In this position, the truckis anchored against movement and the clerkcan brace himself against one of the loops 20. If desired, the ladder"may be- Thereafter, 'he 7 Such mechandise may be locked in this loweranchor position by pivoting the latch member 2i and securing the endthereof under the keeper 23. When the clerk is finished unloading, hewill unlock the latch member 21 and step from the ladder. As he does so.the springs i8 return the ladder to the position of Fig. 1.

It will now be seen that I have served the objects of my invention byproviding the step ladder of a stock transfer truck with a novel limitmeans whereby one or more of the truck shelves and one or morecorresponding steps coact to define a novel stop means coincident withthe upper riding position of thestep ladder. Furthermore, I haveprovided a large vertical loop-and a substantial horizontal steppingarea which coact to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of a personusing the ladder. Still further, I have provided a novel latch means forlocking the ladder in the anchor position so a stock clerk can step fromthe ladder to the top shelf of the truck when desired, yet the truckwill remain anchored against movement during this period. Each of thesefeatures is cumulative with every other feature to provide a stocktransfer truck of increased utility and safety.

I claim:

1. A truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the peripherythereof and carrying therebetween a shelf member jointly to bound theperipheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstandingstringers mounted upon one end of said truck without said peripheraloutline, said ladder being mounted for reciprocation between a 10Weranchor position in which said stringers contact the fioor to brake thetruck against movement and an upper riding position in which saidstringers clear the floor, and an elongated step element laterallyjoining said stringers and having a substantial stepping area, a portionof said stepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheraloutline below said shelf to define therewith a stop means for limitingupward reciprocation of said ladder at said riding position.

2. A truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the peripherythereof and carrying therebetween a pair of vertically spaced shelfmembers jointly with said frame members to bound the peripheral outlineof the truck, a step ladder having upstanding stringers operativelymounted for reciprocation upon one end of said truck without saidperipheral outline, and a pair of vertically spaced elongated stepelements laterally joining said stringers and having a substantialstepping area, said step elements being spaced apart the same amount assaid shelf members, a portion of each said stepping area extendinglongitudinally within said peripheral outline below one of said shelfmembers to define therewith a stop means for limiting upwardreciprocation of said ladder.

3. A wheeled stock transfer truck having upstanding frame members spacedabout the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a horizontal shelfmember jointly to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a stepladder having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding stringers mountedupon spaced guide members fixed upon one end of said truck without saidperipheral outline, a single tubular element defining each saidstringer, said ladder being mounted for reciprocation between a loweranchor position in which said stringers contact the floor to brake thetruck against movement and an upper riding position in which saidstringers.

clear the floor, and 'an elongated step element laterally joining saidstringers and having a substantial stepping area, a portion ofsaidstepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheraloutline below said shelf to define therewith a stop means for limitingupward reciprocation of said ladder at said riding position, saidstringers terminating in large closed circular loop portions having acommon axis parallel to but spaced above said step to define a lateralbrace element, said loop portions extending out over and projectingbeyond the area of said step and said one end of the truck, said loopportions lying in a vertical plane and said stepping area lying in ahorizontal plane thereby to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of aperson using said ladder.

4. A wheeled stock transfer truck having up:- standing frame membersspaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a pair ofvertically spaced shelf members jointly with the frame members to boundthe peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstandingstringers operatively mounted for reciprocation upon one end of aidtruck without said peripheral outline, a pair of vertically spacedelongated step elements laterally joining said stringers and each havinga substantial stepping area, a portion of the stepping area of at leastone step element extending longitudinally within said peripheral outlinebelow one of said shelves to define therewith a stop means for limitingupward reciprocation of said ladder, means yieldable under the weight ofa person using said ladder for biasing said stepping area intoengagement with said shelf, and operative latch and keeper meansselectively for locking said ladder in said lower anchor position.

5. A wheeled stock transfer truck having upstanding frame members spacedabout the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a shelf memberjointly to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladderhaving upstanding tubular stringers operatively mounted forreciprocation upon protruding guide members fixed to one end of saidtruck without said peripheral outline, an elongated step elementlaterally joining said tubular stringers and having a substantialstepping area, a, portion of said stepping area extending longitudinallywithin said peripheral outline below said shelf to define therewith astop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder, at leastone of said tubular stringers terminating in a large loop portion lyingabove said step and defining a lateral brace element, said loop portionlying in a vertical plane and said stepping area lying in a horizontalplane thereby to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of a person usingsaid ladder, means yieldable under the weight of a person using aidladder for biasing said stepping area into engagement with said shelf,and operative means carried by one of said loop portions for lockingsaid ladder in said lower anchor position, said operative meansincluding a pivotally mounted latch selectively engagable with one ofsaid fixed guide members.

6. A truck carrying a tep ladder operatively mounted for reciprocationbetween a lower anchor position contacting the floor and an upper ridingposition clearing the floor, stop means defining said upper ridingposition to limit the upper reciprocation of said ladder, said stopmeans including a shelf member carried by said truck and a step carriedby said ladder and engageebiewith saidssheif, and operativeelatchend, Vkeeper means-zselectivelyior looking :said ladder 1 in said lower anchorposition.

7. A'stocktransfertruckcarrying a stepfladder operatively mountedfior.reciprocation between a.

lower-anchor position contacting the fioorrand an 7 upper ridingposition :clearingrbhe :floor, resilient means yi'elda'bl'e .under 1theweight of at. person using sa;id ladder for biasingsthe :samerto vsaid.

upper riding position, stop means,defining..:said

upper riding-position :to limit the upper :recipro-M' cation of-saidladder, said stop means including 1" a horizontal shelf-memberrwhichis one :of a;p1urali-ty .ef horizontalrz-shelves carried by saidtruck and =9, heri'zoniialstep which :15 one of aplurafliby;

of steps carried by said ladd'er, Lsaid steps being.- spacedepart"vertioally' the same .1 distance as zsaid v shelves, said step-ladderecarrying large loop pertions espaaedhabovexall. oils-aid shelfmember and defining lateral brace elements, and operative 1 latch and rkeeperimeans' carried by oneof said; r loops and Joy-said truck forlocking said ladder in said lower anchor position.

GEORGE W. BURG.

REFERENCES CITED The 'fol-lowingsreferences are of record in the fileofthis partentzr UNITED STATES PATENTS

